Watching the ships roll in …. harbor impact study

Our client, a large natural gas producer, was hoping to expand its re-gasification facility. This included increasing the number of berth and liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage facilities in a busy harbor. The client shared access to its terminal with other port users and because LNG is hazardous, movements of other port users were restricted by certain rules and regulations in the presence of an LNG ship. Thus, the client’s expansion could possibly result in delays and costs to other port-users.

The client requested that EpiX Analytics develop a method and tool to estimate the impact of the client’s expansion plans on other port users. In addition, the client needed to understand the impact of alternative configurations of its birth. EpiX Analytics used discrete event simulation (DES) to analyze and project the transportation activity at the terminal, and the impacts of the client’s shipments on other port users. DES is a technique that is helpful when simulating flows and queues in systems such as a harbor.

The model was used to perform a comprehensive and transparent impact and sensitivity analysis of the client’s expansion and transportation activities. The results of EpiX’ analyses were used in an impact analysis that was filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). FERC has since approved the facility’s expansion.